The Durango & Silverton's Fall Photographers Special has been a Colorado railfan staple for years. Back in 2005, they introduced the annual Winter Photographers Specials, and this year, they introduced a spring train - the Presidential Photo Special. The train ran with all premium service cars (meaning, painted maroon and normally used for the Presidential, First, and Deluxe class services - intended to emulate what a business train might look like on the narrow gauge) on the Friday before the regular summer season trains started. From my point of view, it was just a chance to shoot a D&S train without the yellow cars, and to get some shots in the upper canyon early in the season. Plus I'd never ridden in the premium cars, and thought it might be a nice change. What follows are the results of the Presidential Special on Friday, 1-May-2009, as well as shots of the opening day trains on Saturday, 2-May-2009.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: First,
we are absolutely a not-for-profit organization. We are also
in no way affiliated with the former Denver & Rio Grande Western
Railroad, except for being fans. If you need transportation
services on former Rio Grande lines, please contact Union
Pacific. Our eventual goal is to provide a site which will host a variety of railroad information,
both for railfans and modellers alike. Thanks to Benn Coifman
for the Rio Grande font - it's available at RailFonts.
Want to know more about us? Check the ABOUT page...